Dial for registers and the like



Sept. 17, 1935. P, KNOPF DIAL FOR REGISTERS AND THE LIKE Filed March 2,1934 HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEThis invention relates to dials for indicating or registeringinstrumentalities such as, for instance, flow meters associated withgasoline dispensing pumps. Such meters as manufactured are, of course,provided with a face plate or dial over which indicators move under theinfluence of the registering mechanism to give the desired visualindications of gallons, price, or other information. In practice, it maybecome desirable to provide a different face dial either becausedifferent calibrations are required or because the original face dialhas become unsightly or blemished in use. So far as known additionalface dials to meet the conditions indicated have usually beensubstituted for original face dials by first removing the latter. Thispractice is wholly uneconomical, inconvenient, and disturbing to theregistering mechanism because it involves the removal of the indicatorhand from the central arbor and the removal of permanent retaining meansfor the dial, such as screws.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a dial forinstruments of the general character referred to, or their equivalents,which 25 are simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture andreadily applicable to and removable from the face of a register withoutdisturbing any of the elements associated therewith and withoutrequiring the use of separate means of attachment. A further object ofthe invention is to provide readily detachable dials calibrated withprice totals based on varying unit prices to facilitate the interchangefrom day to day in accordance with the change in such unit prices. Morespecifically, the invention seeks to provide a dial having thecharacteristics indicated and which is provided with retaining meansengageable with existing elements now found on pump meters in generaluse without, however, destroying the intended function of such elementsfor other purposes. These elements comprise spaced studs which extendforwardly from the face plates or dials of meters to receive inspectiontags, labels or the like which maybe attached thereto from time to time,pursuant to local regulations. The improved dials are formed withopenings to receive such attaching elements and be engaged thereby toretain the dial detachably in place while permitting cards and tags orthe like to be engaged with the expend ends of said studs. However, theimproved dials are also provided with openings adapted to be alignedwith the securing screws of standard face pistes and dials therebyenabling the improved dials be entirely substituted for existing platesand retained by such screws.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear atgreater length in connection with the detailed description of theillustrated embodiment. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing a 5 face dial for a pumpmeter calibrated to indicate gallons and total price at the specifiedunit rate of 18 per gallon.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the improved dial showing itsstructure.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section through the dial and taken on theplane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and looking in the directionof the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed view in section through the openingsin the dial with which attaching means may engage the view being takenon the planes indicated by the broken lines 1-! of Figure 2 and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

A registering or indicating instrumentality in the nature of thingsincludes a driven arbor or the like a on which is secured one or moreindicating hands b adapted to be moved by the arbor under the influenceof the prime mover. Such hand or hands more over calibrations on a faceplate or dial so as to indicate visually the performance of the primemover. For the purposes of this application and because of the greatpractical commercial importance of the improved dial in associationtherewith there has been indicated the face plate and associated partsof a meter for gasoline pumps. Such a face plate which may or may nothave been calibrated in the first instance is indicated in Figure 4 bythe reference character 0. This plate is attached to the frame of ameter by screws 0 the relative locations of which are indicated inFigure 1. Through the face plate extends the arbor a carrying theindicator hands b, b. It is the practice to provide such meters withforwardly extending studs 1! which may be flanged at their exposed endsas indicated at d to constitute lugs with which may be engagedinspector's tags or cards after the accuracy of the meter has been dulytested. The improved dial e may be made of metal, cardboard or any othermaterial but it is necessary for the successful practice of theinvention that it shall be slightly flexible wh le sufficiently stifi toretain its intended shape. As shown in Figure 2 the dial is formed as aflat disk having a central opening e therein to receive the arbor a ofthe meter. From this central opening e disk is split radially as in S2-- are ormed in the die? at been ailing to s: W tive locations of studs531m erably formed with holes e located at points corresponding to thescrews c. The dial is suitably calibrated as indicated in Figure 1showing.

for instance, gallons marked in the margin e and price totals in theouter margin e, these price totals being based on the unit price of 18.Since this unit price changes from time to time or from day to day, itis evident that the proprietor of the gas station will carry in stock anumber of dials corresponding to such differences in unit prices as maybe encountered. The principal object of the present invention is toprovide dials of simple and inexpensive construction which may bereadily applied to the face plate of existing meters and readilydetached therefrom as circumstances require without involving the use ofspecial tools and attaching members and without requiring partialdisassembly of the metering elements such as the indicator hands.

In applying the improved dial it is immaterial as to what number ofindicator hands is found on the particular meter and as to the relativeangularity or positions of such hands at the moment the dial is beingapplied or removed. While it is ordinarily true that such hands arereset to zero and thus will be found aligned in Figure l, the hands havebeen shown at 90 displacement. The indicator b pointing to flve 'gallonsis mounted on the arbor under the hand b which is disposed vertically.The dial is engaged by the several studs 1 which pass through theopenings e and the flanges d of the several studs overlie the surface ofthe dial. To remove the dial it is displaced upwardly to a slight extentuntil the flanges d' of the several studs are in alignment with therespective slots e. The dial is then moved away from the face plate ofthe meter until it is wholly disengaged from the several studs. It isthen free to be rotated on its central axis until the opening e isbrought in the vicinity of the hand b. By flexing the dial along itsradial slit 4: the proximate edges are brought out of alignment therebypermitting the dial to he slipped over the hand b as the dial is slowlyrevolved. The slit e is then brought in the vicinity of the other hand band the dial flexed at one side of the slit 1; so it can be passed overthe hand 12. A little movement of the dial will again permit the edgesadjoining the slit e to come together and the dial will be wholly freeof the hands and detached. A new dial is attached by the reverseoperation. It is flexed adjacent the slit e so as to permit it to bepassed over fli'st one hand then another or both together if they are inalignment and the dial is rotated around the arbor until the severalslots e are in alignment with the respective studs d.

The dial is then forced onto the studs by a slight downward movement andthe several flanges d are engaged with the face. This method ofattaching and detaching suflers no disturbance to the indicator hands orto the arbor so there is 5 no danger of disturbing the accuracy of themeter. The ends of the studs d areleft exposed after the dial isattached and inspection tags or the like may be engaged therewith inaccordance with the intended purpose of such studs as now provided. Ifdesired. the face plate 0 of the meter may be removed by removing thescrews c and a dial made in accordance with the present invention can besubstituted therefor by bringing the holes a in proper relation to themounting and passing the screws 0' therethrough to attach the dial withrelative permanence. Other dials embodying the improvements may then beengaged with the studs (1. detachably as heretofore described. In theillustrated embodiment the slit e when the dial is in place extendsvertically. In many meters now in use two studs (1 extend forwardly fromthe metering mechansm in close proximity to the median line of the face.A distinct advantage is gained in the improved construction by havingthe slit e disposed vertically because in that case two of the engagingstuds 6. will be found in proximity thereto when the dial is in placeand these studs will positively prevent rela- 8O tive distortion of thedial at one side or the other of the slit and the dial will appear as aflat disk having an unbroken surface.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a meter. a driven arbor, an indicator hand 5 thereon, forwardlyprotruding studs and a dial having an opening to receive the arbor and aslit from said opening to the periphery to permit distortion of the dialwhen it has passed over the indicator hand, said dial having openingsfor engagement by said. studs.

2. In a meter having a driven arbor and an indicator means carried bythe arbor. studs extending forwardly from said mechanism, a flexibledial having an opening to receive the arbor and a slit extending fromsaid opening to the periphery, and said dial having slots disposed toreceive said studs, at least two of the said slots and studs beinglocated in proximity to the said slit.

3. In a meter, a driven arbor, an indicating hand thereon. and aflexible dial having an opening to receive the arbor and a slit fromsaid opening to the periphery to permit distortion of the dial when ithas passed over the indicator hand, said dial having means to engagecooperating retaining means on the meter.

PAUL KNOPF.

